Winners are grinners, so they say. That was certainly the case for the eight Yorkshire players involved in the men’s Hundred during the competition’s opening round of the matches.
All eight were part of opening round victories.
Harry Brook, Adam Lyth, Adil Rashid and David Willey were all in the Northern Superchargers team who beat the Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford last Friday.
Twenty four hours earlier, Jordan Thompson had helped London Spirit beat the Oval Invincibles at the Oval.
On Saturday, Tom Kohler-Cadmore, Dawid Malan and Joe Root were all in the Trent Rockets team who beat last season’s finalists Birmingham Phoenix at Trent Bridge.
Something had to give in that regard at Headingley last night when five Yorkshire players went head to head as the Northern Superchargers were comfortably beaten by Trent Rockets.
A quirk of the format meant there were only two Yorkshire players in the Superchargers’ team – Adam Lyth and Adil Rashid – yet three in the Rockets’ line-up in Tom Kohler-Cadmore, match-clincher Dawid Malan and Joe Root.
Malan’s imperious 88 not out anchored a pursuit of 153, achieved by seven wickets with six balls to spare.
It also represented the second highest individual score in one and a bit seasons of the Hundred, narrowly falling short of Liam Livingstone’s unbeaten 92 for Birmingham Phoenix last year.
Harry Brook missed the game for the Superchargers because of Lions duty, while David Willey was injured.
“We still got some stick because we were the opposition. I actually need to ask Rooty if he got any. I definitely did in front of the Western Terrace,” joked Malan.
“But it’s a great place to play cricket here. The atmosphere is always unbelievable, and thankfully we were on the winning side tonight.”
Jordan Thompson claimed the prized scalp of England white ball captain Jos Buttler as the first of four wickets for 21 as the Yorkshire all-rounder helped London Spirit beat the Manchester Originals at Lord’s on Tuesday.
Thompson was named the Match Hero after putting the skids under the Originals’ pursuit of 161, also removing Wayne Madsen, Paul Walter and Sean Abbott in a contest watched by England football captain Harry Kane.
Originals were bowled out for 108, leaving Spirit with two wins from two having finished bottom of the league last year.
“I think the lads have been full of confidence from the start,” said Thompson. “Obviously the boys were buzzing to have new people around, and we look like a different team.
“I had a game down here last year. I didn’t actually play, but I was running drinks, and they struggled against the Superchargers. But we’ve got off to a great start with two wins in two.”
Thompson is playing under the captaincy of Eoin Morgan, and he added: “He brings such a calming influence on me.
“I’m quite buzzing on the field, so for him to stand at the end of my mark and calm me down is something I probably need at times.”
The women’s Hundred kicks off tomorrow evening with a blockbuster clash between champions Oval Invincibles and the Northern Superchargers at the Kia Oval – and there is added intrigue from a Diamonds’ perspective.
Lauren Winfield-Hill has swapped the purple of the Superchargers for the green of the Invincibles, and she could face as many as seven of her regional team-mates.
The women’s opener takes centre stage, with their clash taking place under lights at 6.30pm after the men face off in the afternoon.
Hollie Armitage (captain), Jenny Gunn, Bess Heath, Beth Langston, Katie Levick, Rachel Slater and Linsey Smith are all in the Superchargers’ squad.
In total, a dozen players from the Northern Diamonds will take part in this year’s women’s Hundred.
Added to the aforementioned magnificent seven who will wear the purple of the Northern Superchargers, Katherine Brunt, Sterre Kalis, Emma Marlow, Nat Sciver and Lauren Winfield-Hill will also take part elsewhere.
If you don’t want to support the Headingley-based Superchargers, may we suggest the Nottingham-based Trent Rockets because their squad includes three Diamonds; England all-round duo Brunt and Sciver plus Academy graduate and rapidly improving off-spinner Marlow.
Elsewhere, Winfield-Hill is representing defending champions Oval Invincibles, while Dutch international batter Kalis has also moved away from the Superchargers. She will be playing for the Birmingham Phoenix.
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Bess Heath is relishing the prospect of another chance to pick the brains of gold medal winning wicketkeeper Alyssa Healy, the Australian who will be a Northern Superchargers team-mate in the Hundred over the next few weeks.
Heath, 20, has already played alongside some keeping superstars during her still embryonic career.
Healy was a team-mate with the Yorkshire Diamonds in 2019, a year after fellow Aussie Beth Mooney played for the county in the Kia Super League.
Lauren Winfield-Hill continues to be a valued team-mate with the Northern Diamonds now the regional structure has taken over, and briefly last year Sarah Taylor also wore the Diamonds’ blue.
“With Sarah, I would have liked to be around a bit more than I was,” said Heath.
“Obviously, I was injured when she came in. But I did have a couple of sessions with her.
“Having Loz in our team really helps. She’s a brilliant sounding board for all the girls, not just me. And it’s going to be exciting having Alyssa around during the Hundred to learn little bits off her.”
Heath has not been keeping during the first half of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, with Winfield-Hill taking the gloves. It is likely to be the same in the Hundred due to Healy’s presence with the Superchargers.
“Being able to watch and learn off Loz – watching her behind the stumps – has been great,” said Heath.
“Also, I really enjoy the time in the field. I love diving and running around after balls.
“I’m keen to progress all areas of my game, including my fielding. It’s about making myself a more rounded player.”
